The Portland daily press., 1887-12-24
GRAY GRIEF"
Two Journalists Terminate the Travels
Of Frank MeEeally.
The Young Thief Arrested at an Hotel
in Halifax.
Search Reveals, Instead Of the SaeO
Banks Missing Bonds,
Numerous Weapons, Costly Raiment and
a Well Named Novel.
The Bonds Probably Already Handed
Over to the Bank.
Harry McNeally On His Way to His
Erring Brother.
Report Of the Cmprit's Release, Which
Was Not Confirmed.
Report Of the Cuprit's Release, Which
Was Not Confirmed.
Especial to the Press.l


HALIFAX, Dec. 23.-Although it was an
nounced that Frank McNeally, the Saco,
Maine, savings bank robber, was expected
to arrive at Halifax from Liverpool, and did
arrive on Saturday night last, he was not
located in this city until last night, and then
the work was done by newspaper men. After
the reporters had discovered and located him
and were on the eve of having him arrested.
detective, who had obtained an inkling
of the situation, stepped in and grabbed the
man. McNeally arrived on the steamer
Polynesian, under the name of wv. Il.
Stuyvesant' He went to the Halifax Hotel,
where arrangements had previously been
made for his board by another young man,
who was then guest and who told the pro-
pretor that he was there to meet his cousin,
who would be passenger on the steamer,
and would likely remain some weeks. "Mr.
Stuyyesant' registered as from Washington,
d. c., and was located in room 67, on the
same fiat as Consul General Phelan and fam
lily. He was seldom seen around the hotel
and very little was known of him. The
party who arranged for his board was his
brother, Harry McNeally, who is believed to
have come down in the interest of the Saco
Bank to negotiate for the return of the
$275,0O0 OF bonds and securities stolen
Harry undoubtedly obtained possession of
these securities, ETC., and left for home
Wednesday.
For some days past, Boston Globe report
ers have been endeavoring to trace Harry's
movements and thus find Frank. Last night
d. J. McGrath arrived from Boston and con-
suited with Mr.. Dennis, news editor of the
Halifax Herald. At midnight Consul Gen.
eral Phelan, who boards in the. hotel, and
Proprietor Hesslien were consulted and in
formed that McNeally was in the house
under the alias of Stuyvesant. They both
agreed that the description of McNeally and
the appearance of the youth registered as
Stuyvesant were identical. Thereupon, the
two reporters arranged to take immediate
steps for his arrest in the morning. Mean
while the police had been looking for him,
watching the steamers, etc. This morning
they discovered that the journalistic de-
tectiyes had located him at the Halifax
Hotel and were making arrangements for his
arrest. Detective Power saw young man
answering McNeally's description being
shadowed by Consul General Phelan and
Reporters McGrath and Dennis, and prompt
ly grabbed him. Both the police and the
Consul General communicated with the bank
authorities and await their instructions.
McNeally was thoroughly surprised. At
first he denied that he was the man wanted,
but subsequently admitted it to Mr.. Phelan,
the tears streaming down his face while he
did so. The prisoner carried large calibre,
loaded revolver His effects were searched
in the presence of the Consul General and
the two reporters. He has magnificent out
fit of clothes, which did not cost far from
$3.50 and quantity of jewelry. There was
very fine Winchester rifle in his bedroom,
with cartridge belt filled with heavy bull
lets. In his Gladstone portmanteau was a
murderous looking dagger. Among his pa
pers was cipher code, which he had used in
communicating with his Saco friends, and
copy of despatch which, deciphered, reads
as follows: danger. Some one has found
out that arrived on the Polynesan. Saw
it in the papers," McNeally received des-
patch from Maine yesterday, which he de-
stroyed, and he expected another today.
Consul General Phelan is loud in his praises
of the work effected by the reporters which
led to the arrest, and insists that they shall
get portion of the $500 reward offered for
his capture Among the reading matter in
McNeally's room was novel entitled "Green
Pleasure and Gray Grief"